Customer Reviews

Mike Wexler (Dig)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The "psych-folk" label might be ill-fitting for Mike Wexler, but if it's an opportunistic usage, I can't blame his publicity people. After all, merely using the term "folk" these days would conjur up sacharine sensitivity and preciousness, not the dark, haunting trip that is Wexler's debut EP. Echo-laden barroom piano, slide guitar, and other spooky sounds surround Wexler's abstract, at times opaque lyrics, delivered in a raspy, broke-down, but gorgeous voice.

I don't know much about Wexler other than what's already stated in the Amazon's write-up above my review, yet I bought it because some friends whose judgement in matters of Folk I trust, and who know of my love for new Folk artists -Animal Collective, Joanna Newsom, etc.- recommended him.
Certainly, I have not been disappointed, although I would not immediately associate Wexler's style with the new wave Folk people I mentioned before. Rather, it brought memories of older and somewhat obscure practitioners of the genre, Specifically, I thought of Duncan Browne and Pearls Before Swine, both British exponents of some of the most interesting Folk to come out of England in the Sixties. That said, this debut is worthwhile in its own merits and, being only the beginning, marks a singer and songwriter which I'm planning to keep tabs on.
Of the five songs included in this EP, I believe that the opener, "I'd Like to Solve the Puzzle," is the most remarkable one from this small bundle. A song which casts its spell softly, yet may have you return to it even before you played the next track.
The rest of the album, as I said, is rather promising too, and have several quite beautiful moments although, at least for me, they don't reach the level of the first song.
Altogether, this a recommended and economic purchase -probably this guy and the label can use your support- which is unlikely to disappoint those among you interested in new Folk voices with something to say and no need to shout.

SOUNDS LIKE A DRUNKEN OLD LADY AT TEA TIME! {NO OFFENSE TO DRUNKEN OLD LADY VOICES} FLING THIS DISC INTO ORBIT SOMEWHERE...FAST!!!

I saw Mike Wexler perform at Tonic in NYC and I was completely awe-struck. I've been listening to this album several times a day everyday since his show, which was over a week ago. Everything in it moves me -- that anguished/psychedelic voice with his anguished/psychedelic music and words. I hear a little Nick Drake, a little Leonard Cohen, a little Syd Barrett. It is simply a gorgeous album. There is something really great going on here.